|
- Review by: Travis J. Hill
- -
- MY SKIN/ SCREAM FOR ME Double Feature DVD
- Written and Directed by Christopher Alan Broadstone.
- -
- -
- MY SKIN (13 min)
- -
- The Pitch
- -
- A noir/revenge spin on Final Destination.
- -
- The Humans
- -
- Tony Simmons
- -
- The Nutshell
- -
- My absolute fave (and tightest) of all 3 shorts and viewable (and highly rewatchable) here, My Skin is a cautionary tale, warning killers about the price for stepping on the Grim Reapers talons. I love the spartan and stylish production design, the great camera-work, and the way that the main character is showcased (from the costume to his mode of arrival/departure). Simmons is a bonafide presence, with a face made for horror and his odd, deliberate movements. Death is mocking, yet meticulous, and truly not to f**ked with.
- -
- -
- SCREAM FOR ME (22 min)
- -
- The Pitch
- -
- The Devils Rejects spoon with Deliverance.
- -
- The Humans
- -
- Tony Simmons (didnt even recognize him), Gabriel Sigal, Lora Cunningham
- -
- The Nutshell
- -
- What happens when a serial killer and serial rapist have their eye on the same victim? Scream for Me sounds like the recipe for a sadistic sitcom, but I assure you the wacky neighbor in this raw and squirmy film is no Mr. Furley. Torture porn is not my cup o tea at all, but Broadstone has constructed an explosive, brutal (and ironic) tale
and proof that duct tape is the solution to any problem.
- -
- -
- HUMAN NO MORE (Bonus short, 17 min)
- -
- The Pitch
- -
- A bite-sized End of Days.
- -
- The Humans
- -
- Tony Simmons (Again! This guy is a chameleon
)
- -
- The Nutshell
- -
- Although I absolutely love the sub-genre and the obvious potential here, I believe Human No More, a Lovecraft/Barker-inspired (IMO) religious examination of despair and grief, is the weakest of the bunch. The last-will-&-testament/confession presentation is appropriate, sometimes repetitive and a tad enigmatically poetic for its own good, but interesting nonetheless. Evil permeates (and possibly influences) throughout the piece as a detective struggles with heartache and an inability to prevent, avenge, or cope with a devilish tragedy.
- -
- -
- The Package
- -
- Self-distributed, Im sure, the DVD I have here adequately lets the cinema within speak for itself. Id love to see some insight from a Broadstone or Simmons interview or commentary, but youll just have to settle for photo galleries, trailers, and a Scream for Me featurette that is more like a blooper/rehearsal reel and not, unfortunately, an informative behind-the-scenes piece. Sight and sound are fairly good quality and dont detract at all from the viewing enjoyment, despite the low-budget limitations.
-
- -
- The Lowdown
- -
- These award-winning short films (in reality a Triple Feature) really surprised me. I requested to review this based on My Skins trailer alone, but had no idea that I would be pulled in by their atmosphere and craftsmanship so quickly. I wanted to be careful in my review/s to not reveal too much about the plots themselves because of their brevity and intensity, but I have to state that Christopher Alan Broadstone (the C.A.B. in Black Cab Productions, maybe?) is someone to watch out for. His use of color, lighting, editing, camera angle & composition shines above the average amateur horror film-maker. He didnt just decide to make a crappy zombie or slasher flick on the weekends with his drunk buddies and a camcorder. These 3 shorts show a deliberate care and a gifted artistic eye. His attention to detail, interesting sound-scapes, and well-deserved trust in the versatile Tony Simmons have produced a disturbing variety of true horror. With his grasp on madness and the dark side of humanity, Id love to see Broadstone tackle a Lovecraft adaptation. While I dont always like the type of horror he has on display here (particularly Scream for Me), if this writer/director is given a feature-sized budget and the freedom to cast Simmons gritty mug, Ill surely give it a more-than-curious chance. Dont believe me? Order the DVD and see for yourself. At the very least, watch My Skin for free.
- -
- http://www.creature-corner.com/?type=reviews&id=2201
|
|